Since the sport was first introduced at the 1920 Summer Olympics, Olympic ice hockey has been played by both men’s and women’s teams. It was transferred permanently to the Winter Games program at the 1924 edition. Since women’s hockey debuted in 1998, the United States and Canada have won all five gold medals.
In 2002, the U.S. team, led by 1980 “Miracle on Ice” coach Herb Brooks, beat the Soviet Union 4-3 in the final at Salt Lake City to win its first gold in 50 years. That victory, however, was just the beginning of a long run for the Americans.
The following night, the Americans blasted Czechoslovakia 7-3 before a standing-room-only crowd at Sapporo, Japan. The game was 2-2 at the end of the second period, but the Americans exploded in the third with four goals, including two from star forward Dave Christian and one from captain Mark Eruzione. Goalie Jim Craig added 28 saves for the Americans, who were the first to sweep both of the opening rounds and earn a spot in the gold medal game.
Today, the format for the men’s Olympic ice hockey tournament remains pretty much the same: 12 teams play three games in groups to determine seeding and then face each other in elimination games before the top eight advance to the quarter-finals. The top six teams then compete in the medal round, where winners receive gold and bronze medals. If a game in the medal round is tied at the end of regulation, it is decided by a shootout.